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ABSTRACT
Objective: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common healthcare-associated infection. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of a silicone catheter coated with an ultrathin layer of a combination of the noble metals gold, palladium and silver (BIP™–silicone catheter) could reduce the incidence of CAUTI and antibiotic prescription compared with a standard silicone catheter in a cohort of acute neurological patients suffering primarily from stroke. At the same time, all infectious events requiring prescription of an antimicrobial agent were registered and are reported.
Materials and methods: The study was designed as a crossover cohort study enrolling men and women aged over 18 years, requiring emergency management for stroke including the insertion of an indwelling catheter. Data on patient characteristics, urinary tract infections (UTIs), other infectious events and all antibiotic prescriptions were recorded prospectively.
Results: The patients’ characteristics differed in the two centres in terms of age but not in diagnosis distribution. UTIs were recorded in 78 (24.2%) of the patients, ahead of pulmonary tract infections (n = 65; 20.2%). There was no difference in terms of CAUTI in the two catheter groups, even in subgroups with catheter treatment for 1 week or less. The patients with a diagnosed UTI required 3.5 more days of hospitalization than those without a UTI.
Conclusion: CAUTIs were the most frequent healthcare-associated infections, slightly ahead of pulmonary tract infections. No advantages of the coated catheter could be found in this cohort of critically ill patients.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful for the cooperation with the head of the Department of Neurology and all staff on the wards for diligent recording of the data. We also thank Alan Crozier for help with the language.
Disclosure statement
The relation to the company has been within the frame of the clinical trial and without any individual or department-related financial support. None of the authors has served as a consultant to Bactiguard AB at any time.
Funding information
The study had two financial sources. The healthcare authorities of Region Skåne covered the additional working time generated for the recording of data within the Departments of Neurology and Urology. Bactiguard AB provided free of charge the BIP-type catheter used during the trial period. The company gave no other financial support.